Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation. Because of the inflammation, this type of arthritis affects other body parts, not just the joints. It can affect the skin, salivary glands, kidneys, nerve tissues, bone marrow, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. As a result, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to several complications over the long term. Here are some of the common conditions that often occur with rheumatoid arthritis:

1. Osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis has been known to increase the risk of osteoporosis. It is a condition that causes the weakening of the bones. As a result, the bones become brittle and more prone to breakage and fracture. A fall or even a mild strain on the bones due to bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. These breaks and fractures due to osteoporosis have mainly been observed to occur in the spine, wrist, or hip.

2. Rheumatoid nodules
This is another common condition that often occurs with rheumatoid arthritis. These are firm bumps of tissue that appear under the skin. In most cases, these form around joints that are highly exposed to trauma and stress, such as the elbows and finger joints. Sometimes, the nodules may appear elsewhere in the body, such as the back of the heel, lungs, and heart.

3. Sjogren’s syndrome
Those with rheumatoid arthritis are also at a higher risk of developing Sjogren’s syndrome. It is a chronic autoimmune disorder that reduces mouth and eye moisture. This happens because the immune system starts to attack the glands that produce moisture in the mouth, eyes, and other body parts. As a result, a person begins to experience frequent instances of dry mouth and dry eyes.

4. Chronic infections
Due to chronic inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis can impair the immune system. In addition, the various medications that alleviate arthritis symptoms can further weaken the immune system. Thus, the body’s defense system becomes vulnerable over time. As a result, one becomes more prone to frequent and chronic infections such as influenza, pneumonia, shingles, and allergies.

5. Carpal tunnel syndrome
This condition occurs when rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the joints of the wrists. Over time, the inflammation causes stress on the fingers and hand nerves. This results in severe pain affecting the range of motion of the wrists. One starts to experience tingling, burning, numbness, and weakness in the arm and hand, specifically in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers.

6. Cardiovascular disorders
With rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s level of inflammatory substances like cytokines increases. These substances cause damage not only to the joints but also to the blood vessels. Moreover, these substances cause plaque in the arteries, narrowing down the blood vessels and blocking blood flow. This leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

7. Lung disease
The long-term inflammation brought on by rheumatoid arthritis can cause lung scarring. This can lead to interstitial lung disease. Due to this, a person may start to experience several symptoms over time. These include chronic dry cough, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, weakness, and fatigue.